• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Organic Seed Alliance

Putting the power of seed into the hands of growers

  • News
  • Programs
    • Research
    • Education
    • Advocacy
  • Publications
    • All Publications
    • How-to Guides
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Worksheets & Record-keeping
    • Conference Proceedings
  • Resources
    • Policy Platform for Seed
    • State of Organic Seed
    • Organic Seed Producers & Intern Host Farm Directory
    • Variety Trial Tool
    • Seed Internship Program & Organic Seed Production Online Course
    • Midwest Organic Seed Production Online Course
    • Seed Economics Toolkit
    • IPR on Seed: Resources & Tools
    • Seed Cleaning Toolkit
    • OSA’s YouTube Channel
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • OSA Quarterly Calls
    • 2025 Organic Seed Growers Conference
  • Media
  • About
    • Staff Directory
    • Board & Advisors
    • Our Story
    • Current Openings
    • Our Alliance
    • Business Partners
    • Annual Report
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
  • Give

Seed Policy · November 3, 2014

Who Controls Our Seed? One CA County Will Decide

For more than a decade, local governments across the U.S. have passed resolutions that aim to control the planting of genetically engineered crops. These successes include dozens of towns in New England and several counties in California where GE crops can no longer be grown.

Humboldt County is the latest community to consider a ban on GE crop plantings. Tomorrow voters will decide whether to pass such a ban through Measure P.

As of last week, the stakes are higher, thanks to a bill passed by the California legislature and signed into law by the governor. The bill, AB 2470, prohibits local governments from enacting new plant or seed regulations without the state’s permission. The bill doesn’t take effect, however, until January 1, whereas Measure P would take effect immediately.

Similar pre-emption bills have been passed in at least 15 states, and are a backdoor strategy by the biotech and chemical industry to beat back local ordinances and state bills that aim to limit the proliferation of their products. Organizers of GE crop bans — and other GE legislation, such as GMO food labeling — introduce these measures to address the serious shortcomings and gaps in current U.S. policy.

Are outright bans at the local level the best approach to regulating GMOs? Probably not. But in absence of a robust regulatory framework governing GE crops — one that involves a holistic analysis of new products in the context of where U.S. agriculture is headed — some communities see these initiatives as the only way to take a precautionary approach to GE products, especially new products that threaten the health and viability of their communities.

Also on the ballot are a number of GMO labeling initiatives. At least 35 bills have been introduced in 20 states. To date, Connecticut, Maine, and Vermont have successfully passed state-labeling initiatives. See if your state is poised to join the growing list.

Share

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Regions: California

Categories: Seed Policy

Tags: GMOs

Kiki Hubbard

Kristina (Kiki) Hubbard is the director of advocacy and communications for Organic Seed Alliance. She currently leads efforts to promote policies and actions that support organic seed systems, including managing OSA’s State of Organic Seed project.

Footer

Seed Alliance logo

Promoting an abundant and diverse organic seed supply, tended in perpetuity by skilled and interconnected communities

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2025 Organic Seed Alliance · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design